The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-01
ANOTHER RIVER HORROR.
The Steamer 7. Il. sims and Her
Cargo Destroyed.
Fire Discovered About 4 O'Cleek
Yesterday MorstaG-A YsanE
Mar Burned 10 Death.

Sims, en- route from 81. Louis 10 this
port, took fire at an early hour yester.
day morning aud was totally destroyed.
TIE boat left 81. Louis on Monday
last, and should have arrived here
morning, but heavy way
business and bad weather detained
her. 1t wM shortly before 4 O'Clock
In the morning whom, - the steamer
wss abreast Of Bradlsy's Landing,
about sixteen miles above this city,
and moving down the river In good
shspe, that the cry Of sire" was
heard. R,bert Lamont, the second
engineer, disco cred fire among some
begging In the deck room and Just Of,
the sidings. He at once notified the
pllot and then had the pumps
manned. A large quantity Of water
Was thrown upon the burning bsg.
ring, but IL seemed 10 mako the flames
srow more furious, and within I'VE
minutes after the ere was frat
dii covered the after part Of
ths boat was In flames, and
men o. the pump, had 10 run for
their lives, two Of the deck being
compelled 10 Jump overheard.
While this was going on, Pilot Jake
Coz, who was at the wheel, headed
the boat for the Tennessee shore shs
struck the bank head on, and q line
was run out and the stage lowered,
which enabled the crew and all the
passengers tave one 10 reach the
shore. The Are soon burned through
10 the upper works, and ten minutes
after lie discovery the steamer was q
mass Of flames. The fire worked its
way forward and soon burned the
besd.line that held the III fated
steamer TO the shore, and she Diff ed
on. into aud foatei with the current
20 the bar about four miles below,
whoro the burning hulk grounded and
settled with twelve feet OF water ut
the head and three feet at the siern.
The snaeboat II. q. Wright, which
happened along, took aboard the
crew and passengers, and then threw
water on the burning wreck.
All the boats people we're called to-
gether, and II was then ascertsined
that . passenger aud one Of the roust-
era were messing. A search was iusti.
tuted, and the th1rts Of the eearchers
were rewarded by the finding Of q
body lyirg lace downward on top Of
The boilers. The legs had been burned
OF clsse to the body and the arms
were gone 10 the elbow. A large hole
had been burned In the right eide,
from which the entrails protruded. II
was Q sickenine sight 10 case upon.
The charred remains were gathered mp
and buried upon the island. IL was a.
hut thought that II was the body OF
the rousier, but On be has since turned
MP The officers Of the Sims are salts
fied that the remains were thoee OF q
Young man named Bunch, who took
passage al NJ. Louis Tor this city.
bunch occupied room 10, which Ia just
over the boilers. Chitf Clerk WIN.
Fitsgerard and the stewart were
re,tins the books out Of the ON %
when they heard n voice In the dl.
rection oi the room occupied by
Bunch. The cabin was then filed
With 0 dense smoke. They called oui
10 come their way and waited, bat
we're soon compelled TO leave the
boat, "a the Ore grew too hot ioI
them.
Robert L,mont, the second engi
nesr, who was on watch, was one o
the last 10 leave the boa'. He 70
NAMED at the enRines until the las
signal was given by the pilot, and
then tie FIRE was 90 hot thai
he Naa forced o. leave the levers down
and the smoke was no dense that he
alnot tuff0cstsd. The frat intima
ton he bad Of FIRE was from negro
who rolled on the bigaing shouiing
"FipI lie did all In hla power Ia
check the flames, bat they had gained
too much hesdway; still, he never
rave up, until the entire deck reoI
VAS a mas OF fame.
Wn. Frey, the first engineer, wa
ssleep when the alarm was given
He arose quickly and proceeded q
arouse every body asleep In the cabin
II was With the greatest din ,ulty tina
he swoke Chief Clerk Fitzgerald, snt
bat for him the clerk would hay,
bsen Lost.
The crew SPEAK In the highest term
Of Capt Bins, Who stood maniully q
his post, and remained cool through
out. The ofieerp aud passengers o
the Inflated steamer were take
aboard by the Ooahoma, and arrive,
here at noon yesterday.
The Sims had between 600 and 20
tons Of freight, all consigned 10 Mem
pbis merchants. II Included 20
bales Of cotton (which were on Oh
gusrds), 300 sacks OF cotton seed, an,
about 5000 barrels Of -four and me A
No foil manifest Of the cargo can b
given, mlet Of the books and quite
numbsr Of the papers having bee
Lost. The cotton aud cotton seed wa
consigned AZ follows; W. A. Gage
90, 80 bales cotton schoolheld, Hat
amer a 90 80; J. 4. fargaion a 90
10; g. W. Hampton 4 o., o;P. Mt
Cadden A Co. o. j J. Shoemaker
o., 81 Porte q MAcrae, 8; W, Y, Ia,
lof 4 %, So n. Efes, 2; HAynG
Ellis 4 o., 2, Memphis Cotton So
Company, 100 sacks cotton iced
sonthern C,.ton Seed Association
bb7; Gayoeo OH Work.. $40 Most {
the cotton sill be saved, ~ the bal,
nia.sd 81 and we're caught by hihe
men. The hold vas flied with n "a
meal, etc. aud some OF This will
tayed, but In O damaged condition
The FIRE was plainly Visible her
and was Witnessed by q number
people on the bluf. The aky Was ~ n
ior mlloa around, and caused the fir
Department here 10 hitch mp.
The SIM VAS originally the ID. !
Powell. She Was huilt in Cincinna
IN 1882 Tor CAPT l. w. Gould, an
had the cabin and machinery Of N
old Memphis and Vcksburg pack
Illinois she was 1858 feet long,
feet beam, Z feet depth OF holt
and sss.7l tons burihel
TIE Powell fret piled
Missouri river. and sileTwArd mad
trips TO V ckshu'H end Nos Orleans !
the Anchor limo. About hve mont